Chapter 8
Sebastian remained calm.
That made Celeste angrier.
“You told me the bell was the signal.”
He smiled.
“It was.”
“Was?”
“You changed the schedule.”
“I changed nothing.”
Sebastian lifted one shoulder.
“You changed Rocco.”
Celeste’s eyes hardened.
“What does that mean?”
Sebastian looked toward Rocco.
Then Donna.
Then back.
“You let personal drama start early.”
Celeste’s face changed.
Rocco understood.
The garage humiliation had not been scheduled.
Celeste had lost her temper with Donna.
Sebastian’s plan expected confrontation later.
At the wedding.
In front of more men.
With weapons positioned.
Celeste’s cruelty had triggered Rocco too soon.
Sebastian was angry because she had ruined timing.
She stared at him.
“You knew she followed us.”
“Yes.”
“You told me to handle it.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Rocco was coming back.”
Sebastian smiled.
“Approximately.”
Celeste’s expression emptied.
“You wanted him to find us.”
Rocco watched.
Sebastian did not answer.
That was enough.
Celeste laughed softly.
Not amused.
“You arrogant bastard.”
Sebastian’s eyebrows lifted.
“From you?”
“That's almost affectionate.”
She stepped toward him.
“You were going to let him see me with Donna.”
“Of course.”
Her breathing changed.
Donna looked between them.
Rocco saw the shape.
Sebastian needed Rocco furious at Celeste.
Needed a public confrontation.
Needed the engagement to appear broken.
Why?
Rocco asked.
Sebastian smiled.
“Maybe I'm tired of explaining your own house to you.”
Rocco said nothing.
Sebastian continued.
“If Bellacorte attacks Hale publicly, Hale men respond.”
“If Hale responds, Serrano moves.”
“If Serrano moves, everyone chooses.”
Vincent’s face hardened.
“A three-way split.”
Sebastian nodded.
“Finally.”
Celeste stared.
“You told me Serrano was support.”
Sebastian looked at her.
“They are.”
“For who?”
Sebastian smiled.
No answer.
Celeste stepped closer.
“You promised them territory.”
“Everybody promises territory.”
“What territory?”
His silence answered.
Celeste’s eyes widened.
“Mine.”
Sebastian did not blink.
Rocco caught it.
Sebastian planned to use his sister’s marriage to fracture both families.
Celeste understood.
Her voice became low.
“You were going to trade Hale routes to Serrano.”
Sebastian shrugged.
“Temporary.”
“And me?”
“Married.”
The answer was cruelly casual.
Celeste stared.
Sebastian smiled.
“You wanted Rocco.”
“You get Rocco.”
Her face hardened.
“After you destroy his house?”
“After I reshape it.”
Rocco’s voice cut through.
“Into what?”
Sebastian turned.
His confidence remained.
“Something less sentimental.”
He nodded toward Donna.
“No old women deciding who sleeps under which roof.”
Then toward Nora.
“No servants becoming moral authorities because they cry at the right time.”
Then toward Celeste.
“And no brides confusing a ring with command.”
Celeste looked like she might strike him.
Sebastian smiled.
“Go on.”
“Prove my point.”
She stopped.
Rocco saw it.
Even Celeste could recognize bait now.
Then the young Hale man spoke from behind them.
“Mr. Sebastian said Celeste wouldn't matter after the first night.”
Celeste’s head turned.
Sebastian's eyes hardened.
The young man continued.
“He said once Rocco fired on Hale men…”
A pause.
“…both bosses would be too busy fighting to notice who took the docks.”
Rocco’s face became still.
Celeste whispered:
“Both bosses?”
The young man nodded.
“Rocco.”
A pause.
“And you.”
May you like
Sebastian had never intended his sister to become powerful through marriage.
He intended her to become one of the two casualties that made his takeover possible.
